Young people forgotten by the covid crisis? “They should become one of the priority groups” for vaccination



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Young people, left behind? The government is expected to present the details of its vaccination plan on Thursday after an inter-ministerial conference on public health. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has already announced that the campaign will begin on January 5 in Belgium. Healthcare professionals, people over the age of 65 and people between the ages of 45 and 65 with comorbidities would be the priority to receive the vaccine.

But according to psychologist Inez Germeys (KU Leuven), young people should also be part of the priority group. “They must become one of the priority groups, after the health personnel, of course.“judged on the set of VRT Niews. For the psychologist, it is their mental health, an aspect often overlooked in political decisions.

The 15-25 years have suffered too much psychologically from the first birth and the same goes for the second, deprived of social contacts while they are in a crucial period of their life: “It is a fundamental need for them”, underlined the expert.

“Keep in mind that even before the first block began, 20% of young people already had moderate to severe mental health problems,” says a study by KU Leuven to support it. This study also reveals the psychological effects of complaints among young people and in particular the second one that would weigh more: “This second block makes everything more difficult because there are currently fewer prospects and because solidarity in society is weaker. Young people benefit. from online contact, but nothing beats real physical contact, “Inez Germeys told VRT.

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